Only 100 tortillerias out of a universe of 125 thousand establishments with operations in Mexico have joined the Claudia Sheinbaum government’s anti-inflation plan, revealed Homero López García, president of the National Tortilla Council (CNT).
“Out of a universe of 125 thousand business units, not even 100 tortilla factories have joined the National Corn-Tortilla Agreement,” said the businessman.
The National Corn-Tortilla Agreement was launched by President Claudia Sheinbaum to stabilize the price of tortilla in Mexico in October 2024, the business representative recalled.
“The promoters of the agreement wanted it to be closed within 100 days of the President of the Republic’s government,” said the tortilla producer in Puebla.
“I told them, do not deceive the president because the National Corn-Tortilla Agreement is not going well and has not produced results because it does not adapt to the needs of the industry nor are there conditions for the agreement to be beneficial,” he expressed.
Mexico City and the State of Mexico have a price of 22 pesos per kilogram of tortilla, but in the north of the country it costs up to 32 pesos per food. And today the average price throughout the country is 26 pesos.
Tortillerias have more than 89 million customers in the country, so it is necessary to access digital financial services so that the price of tortillas is stabilized, he noted.
“The entire economic situation that is coming, such as zero growth in the gross domestic product (GDP), will affect the tortilla industry,” added Homero López García.
Those affiliated with the National Tortilla Council work to strengthen the dough and tortilla industry through alliances with different companies such as gas companies, now commercial banks. But it also requires subsidies from Claudia Sheinbaum’s government for it to operate smoothly.
“When someone is sick we are going to give them vitamins to give a series of benefits to the consumer and those who buy, which are 123 million consumers,” he noted.
The delivery of support to the dough and tortilla industry will help the economy of all Mexicans and without distinction or conditions, he indicated.
The president of the CNT expressed that in the price of corn there is unfair competition with the United States, since “there they produce 12 tons of transgenic corn per hectare, which we know does not harm, but the proportion per hectare gives you more than in the Mexican countryside.”
In Mexico, he said, one hectare produces 6 tons of corn compared to 12 tons raised in the fields of the United States, which reduces the cost of production there.
He added that the countryside in Mexico is not subsidized, it is not supported with tools, it does not receive technology or culture to produce.
“There is an inequality of conditions between the United States and Mexico in the agricultural issue, for which the government must pay attention and support the countryside with subsidies,” he highlighted.
“Just as politicians say that the countryside, corn and tortillas are the most important and bombastic, when they campaign, they should subsidize it,” he noted.
“Nothing happens by raising a peso for the countryside and as if when they decide to raise flour prices by 500 pesos per ton and up to a thousand pesos: Why doesn’t anyone question the subsidy for flour? Why doesn’t anyone support the countryside?”, he pointed out.
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